Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11), chairman of the powerful House Appropriations committee, is caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, under pressure from the extreme right wing of his party for opposing the first version of Trump/Ryancare, and under pressure from his non-extreme-right-wing constituents for everything else he has done in the past several years, as well as refusing to meet with them face to face in Town Hall-style meetings.

For a variety of reasons, the Great Recession of 2008, which wiped out many retirement accounts, together with the high cost of healthcare, the vast majority of Americans, even those at the tail end of the baby boom who are on the verge of retirement, have little to nothing saved or invested for their “Golden Years.”

The High Point Regional High School Board of Education approved a budget that dramatically cuts school funding by almost seven percent, and includes the elimination of the school’s substance abuse counselor.

New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection appears to be joining the ever-lengthening list of governmental agencies set on destroying what they are supposed to protect, with increasingly concerning implications for Sussex County.

“In 2015, the last year that data was available, only $75,000 of the $122 million collected went toward upgrading the system. No state in the country has collected more from its taxpayers to fund critical upgrades to the 911 system, and, according to the federal government, no state uses less of that money to actually fund improvements to their system.”

Entrenched in the House of Representatives for what is now his 12th term and holding the powerful chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen would seem to be sitting pretty.

The petition deadline has passed for appearing on the primary ballot in June. While a few more Democrats will appear on the ballot this year, there are still many gaps. The door is still open for anyone wishing to serve their community and challenge GOP in Sussex County.

In a further concession to government by secrecy, Sussex County’s GOP “disinvited” the press to its annual Lincoln Brunch, the party’s flagship event and fundraiser, which was held April 9 at Lafayette House.